London’s Hackney Council to Vote on Motion to ‘De-Twin’ from Israel’s Haifa
As tensions between Israel and Palestine continue to escalate, London’s Hackney Council has announced plans to vote on a motion that would terminate its “twin” status with the Israeli city of Haifa. The decision comes after years of protests by local residents who have expressed opposition to Israel’s actions in Gaza.
The Green Party, which took control of Hackney Council from the Labour Party in May 2023, has long advocated for a strong stance against Israel’s war on Gaza and its treatment of Palestinians. In response to this, the council is set to vote on a motion that would review its twinning relationships with Haifa.
The decision was made possible by thousands of people who have signed petitions calling for an end to the twinning arrangement between Hackney Council and Haifa. The petition, which was launched in October 2023, cited concerns over Israel’s human rights record in Gaza and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region.
According to a report published by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Israeli forces have been accused of breaches of international law and genocide in Gaza. The commission also found that violence against Palestinians has been rising for some time.
The council’s decision not to engage with Haifa while conflict is ongoing has sparked criticism from Jewish groups in England. Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, described the motion as “spite over sense” and called on Hackney Greens to celebrate Haifa instead of censuring it.
Former Labour MP Luke Akehurst also criticized the motion, stating that he was “disgusted by performative and spiteful gesture politics.” He argued that terminating the twinning arrangement would be a step towards creating understanding between Israel and Palestine rather than canceling or boycotting them.
The Green Party has stated its intention to de-twin from Haifa at the earliest opportunity, undertake a full review of all existing twinning relationships that fail to uphold equal human rights or participate in apartheid, systemic oppression, or genocide. The council is also exploring new twinning models rooted in solidarity with Palestinian communities.
As the debate over Hackney’s twining relationship with Haifa continues, it remains unclear what impact this decision will have on London’s relations with Israel and Palestine. However, one thing is certain: the motion has sparked a renewed call for action against Israeli policies that are widely condemned by human rights organizations around the world.
Based on reporting from Al Jazeera.
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